Roberta Gualtierotti, Cinzia Bressi, Barbara Garavaglia, Paolo Brambilla
{"title":"Exploring the Impact of Sex and Gender in Brain Function: Implications and Considerations","authors":"Roberta Gualtierotti, Cinzia Bressi, Barbara Garavaglia, Paolo Brambilla","doi":"10.1007/s12325-024-03016-3","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Sex and gender are crucial variables in understanding brain development and disease. Biological sex is determined by genetic and hormonal factors, whereas gender is a multidimensional construct shaped by social and cultural influences. The interplay of these factors contributes to sex-specific susceptibilities and disease progression in psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, sex and gender are often considered as a single variable, which can lead to biased data analysis and interpretation.</p><p>This commentary aims to analyze how sex and gender influence brain structure and function, with implications for personalized medicine, research, and the development of gender-sensitive clinical guidelines.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Findings from various studies employing neuroimaging techniques and animal models are discussed, as well as the impact of biological sex, gender, environmental, cultural, and social factors on brain development, organization, and behavior.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Evidence suggests that sex differences in brain structure and function are not only genetically determined but are also influenced by gender-related experiences and societal contexts. Importantly, discrepancies between male and female brains are reduced in gender-equal societies. Preclinical studies play a pivotal role in determining the influence of biological sex, independent of gender, in different disease models.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The findings underscore the need to consider both sex and gender in research and clinical practice to avoid biases and promote equitable health outcomes. Moving forward, we advocate for gender-sensitive approaches to be integrated into brain research and in clinical guidelines to achieve personalized and precision medicine.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7482,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Therapy","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12325-024-03016-3.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Advances in Therapy","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12325-024-03016-3","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction
Sex and gender are crucial variables in understanding brain development and disease. Biological sex is determined by genetic and hormonal factors, whereas gender is a multidimensional construct shaped by social and cultural influences. The interplay of these factors contributes to sex-specific susceptibilities and disease progression in psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, sex and gender are often considered as a single variable, which can lead to biased data analysis and interpretation.
This commentary aims to analyze how sex and gender influence brain structure and function, with implications for personalized medicine, research, and the development of gender-sensitive clinical guidelines.
Methods
Findings from various studies employing neuroimaging techniques and animal models are discussed, as well as the impact of biological sex, gender, environmental, cultural, and social factors on brain development, organization, and behavior.
Results
Evidence suggests that sex differences in brain structure and function are not only genetically determined but are also influenced by gender-related experiences and societal contexts. Importantly, discrepancies between male and female brains are reduced in gender-equal societies. Preclinical studies play a pivotal role in determining the influence of biological sex, independent of gender, in different disease models.
Conclusion
The findings underscore the need to consider both sex and gender in research and clinical practice to avoid biases and promote equitable health outcomes. Moving forward, we advocate for gender-sensitive approaches to be integrated into brain research and in clinical guidelines to achieve personalized and precision medicine.
期刊介绍:
Advances in Therapy is an international, peer reviewed, rapid-publication (peer review in 2 weeks, published 3–4 weeks from acceptance) journal dedicated to the publication of high-quality clinical (all phases), observational, real-world, and health outcomes research around the discovery, development, and use of therapeutics and interventions (including devices) across all therapeutic areas. Studies relating to diagnostics and diagnosis, pharmacoeconomics, public health, epidemiology, quality of life, and patient care, management, and education are also encouraged.
The journal is of interest to a broad audience of healthcare professionals and publishes original research, reviews, communications and letters. The journal is read by a global audience and receives submissions from all over the world. Advances in Therapy will consider all scientifically sound research be it positive, confirmatory or negative data. Submissions are welcomed whether they relate to an international and/or a country-specific audience, something that is crucially important when researchers are trying to target more specific patient populations. This inclusive approach allows the journal to assist in the dissemination of all scientifically and ethically sound research.